Longevity Wax

[akimel]

I only washed the car with Zaino's car wash product, but felt the buttery smooth finish leave after only maybe 2 months. I've now resorted to putting on a coat of Z2 every time I wash the car, just to keep the foundation protected and maintain the buttery smooth feel. It is very time consuming to do it each and every time.

Question: does the loss of slickness demonstrate loss of protection? Perhaps it signifies some measure of degradation (but how much?), but it need not signify significant loss of protection. But I may be wrong.



My guess is that every sealant out there will lose its "buttery smooth feel" after two months of exposure to the elements. There are products one might use to maintain that slickness. Isn't that what Z-8 is for?

 

[peterp]

Question: does the loss of slickness demonstrate loss of protection? Perhaps it signifies some measure of degradation (but how much?), but it need not signify significant loss of protection. But I may be wrong.

This is a really good point. It seems critical to distinguish whether it is just a lost of slickness or a loss of protection.



On the slickness side, I had an experience with Zaino where a car that is garaged 100% of the time and only driven about 1000 miles per year had a finish that went from buttery to a fairly rough finish after having many coats of Zaino. This was over a year or so that it became rough, but still very surprising given it is very protected. I had many coats of Zaino invested and didn't want to start from scratch, so I clayed the surface and it went back to feeling buttery. I don't have any way to tell if or how much of the prior coats were removed by clay, but it doesn't seem like much. Here is the thread where I asked for advice: http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-detailing-product-discussion/129698-will-clay-remove-zaino.html.



I haven't been able to figure out how that garaged car became rough, maybe surface contaminants can penetrate Zaino over time, but claying restored the buttery surface immediately. It's still an open question how much Zaino is removed by claying (it didn't seem like much in my case but I followed the clay with several coats anyway (just didn't want to lose all the prior coats).

 

[JSFM35X]

Four Star Ult. Paint Protectant, followed by a once monthly app of Optimum Car Wax, after washing. Super Slick, super easy to use.....I have used it for about 7-8 years, and with all the new stuff that arrives, I end up always going back to UPP. Doesnt get enough credit for some reason.....

Did you mean UPGP (WOWA Sealant)? or UPP (Prep). I also use the whole system with good results. For correcting and washing I have moved to Poorboys products. Just as good and truthfully I went to their detail weekend and they taught me alot. I needed someone to show me and they did. The WOWA has me hooked and it lasts. Take some getting used to the application.

 

[Dan]

How long does it take you to wax a car? It takes me 15 minutes, when you lost that slickness, spend 15 minutes and wax it again. As has been mentioned, Zaino is one of the longest lasting products there is, you aren't going to get anything much better. Get a bottle of aquawax and use while drying the car, your concerns will be gone.

 

[nushine31223]

I apply zaino by the letter also, and see 8+ months out of it at times. After every wash I just spray down with z6 and when the slickness and beading goes I spray down with z8.

 

[Accumulator]

Question: does the loss of slickness demonstrate loss of protection? Perhaps it signifies some measure of degradation (but how much?), but it need not signify significant loss of protection...

I see the degradation in slickness to be an issue in and of itself; the slickness of certain products is one reason why I use them so I don't want to do without it.

My guess is that every sealant out there will lose its "buttery smooth feel" after two months of exposure to the elements...

While it doesn't exactly have a "buttery smooth feel", KSG does have a distinct "plasticy feel" that can last for a long time if you layer it heavily.

There are products one might use to maintain that slickness. Isn't that what Z-8 is for?

And the other various spray versions of sealants and certain QDs as well (UGE, FK425, Sonus Acrylic Spritz, etc.).

 

[JPW]

I'm a big Zaino fan, but have also seen poor durability on daily drivers. I posted about this a while ago, and it was recommended to always use ZFX for better durability. I had been using ZAIO, Z5, Z2 no ZFX (even though I had some on hand) because with ZAIO you can do two layers without ZFX according to the instructions (but according to users here adding ZFX will help durability). I just did my wife's car today with ZAIO, and 2 coats of Z5 ZFX -- I won't know for a while whether durability is improved.



It might be worthwhile giving Zaino one more try with ZFX and see if that helps. Also, I noticed you mentioned 7 layers (ZAIO, 2 Z5, 3 Z2, 1 CS) -- did you do that over the course of a few days? Zaino recommends no more than 3 layers per 24 hours (I think that is true even if ZFX used, but I'm going from memory). If more then 3 layers were done in 1 day, then it may not have cured properly.

Sorry, I should have mentioned, I am using ZFX. I also did the many layers over days while the vehicle was not driven and garaged. Again, I followed the directions to the letter.



It's funny because what you did with your wife's car is exactly what I just did. I had some stuff called Super Glaze that I used to use. I really liked it, but like the Zaino I felt the buttery smoothness went away pretty quickly so for fun I just did a test. I washed the car with Dawn, did half with one coat of Zaino AIO and one coat of Z5, and with the other half I used one coat of Super Glaze. The Super Glaze went on incredibly well and both still have the buttery smoothness. Time will tell which one fades first and I'll be really disappointed if its Zaino since this is two more difficult coats compared to one of a competing product.

 

[Carlover101]

For whatever its worth, my familiy and I have used collinite insulator for years with no problems

 

[Scottwax]

I'd suggest switching to Optimum No Rinse if you want to keep the slickness for a long time. The polymers that encapsulate and remove the dirt also add gloss and slickness each time you wash with it. I find that traditional bucket and hose washing contributes to the loss of slickness in all waxes and sealants. The tendency is to think if some suds are good then more are better and most people use a lot more than the recommended amount of soap.



Using something like Z8, Optimum Car Wax or Duragloss Aquawax once a month will also help maintain the slickness with very little effort.

 

[peterp]

I'd suggest switching to Optimum No Rinse if you want to keep the slickness for a long time. The polymers that encapsulate and remove the dirt also add gloss and slickness each time you wash with it. I find that traditional bucket and hose washing contributes to the loss of slickness in all waxes and sealants. The tendency is to think if some suds are good then more are better and most people use a lot more than the recommended amount of soap.

Thanks for info -- I am going to try the ONR. I keep hearing about it and forgetting to try it. Seems like everyone is thrilled once the try it. For those with vintage cars, this is a great because the seals may not be perfect and it's beneficial to avoid heavy rinsing.

 

[Autogeek]

Thanks for info -- I am going to try the ONR. I keep hearing about it and forgetting to try it. Seems like everyone is thrilled once the try it. For those with vintage cars, this is a great because the seals may not be perfect and it's beneficial to avoid heavy rinsing.

I always use ONR or similar rinseless products when washing a classic car. :2thumbs: